Division of Occupational Therapy

Low Vision Clinic

It is estimated that 80% of the sensory information we take in from our surrounds and process in our brains is from our vision.   Although there are excellent services for people with low vision in the state of Utah, we believe that combining the skills and viewpoint of occupational therapy with the skills and viewpoint of low vision functional skills treatment, we can provide a new option for people with low vision based on their occupations, roles, routines and habits. 

 To this end, the Division of Occupational Therapy is in the process of establishing a Functional Low Vision Treatment Clinic during the spring of 2008.   Dr. JoAnne Wright will be heading up the clinic.  She is an occupational therapist as well as a certified low vision therapist.  She also has a graduate certificate in gerontology. 

The program will be rolled out in two phases.  The first phase and focus of the clinic will be for the older adult that has low vision as a result of disease such as macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.  The functional skills that will be addressed will relate to:

  1. Difficulties related to activities of daily living (ADL) which include personal care, meal preparation or home care.
  2. Difficulties related to Independent activities of daily living (IADL) which include reading, shopping, social participation
  3. Other difficulties with functional tasks, roles and routines that occur because of low vision.

The second phase will provide treatment for people with low vision as a result of acquired brain injury where in the eye is not effected but the low vision is more related to the processing of visual sensory information.

The above mentioned skills will be addressed as well as the cognitive processes that may be impacted as a result of the acquired brain injury including visual perceptional skills and cognition.  Treatment will include teaching functional methods so clients may more successfully cope with their disability.  We look forward to receiving referrals from the Moran Eye Center as well as providers in the community.   This site will provide educational opportunities for students as well as treatment for those people with some form of low vision.